Machinery for the manufacture of matches



(No Model.) 4 Shets-Sheet 1. J. H. MITCHELL.

MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES. No. 284,650. Patented Sept. 11 1883 WITNESSES. v INVENTOR.

u PUERS. PMlc-LHM-gnphar. Washingkm, D.C.

2 m e h S w e e h S 4 L L E H v C T I M H m d O M O W MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFAGTURE QF MATCHES.

Patented Se t. 11, 1883.

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No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shget 3.

J. H. MITCHELL. MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES.

N0. 284,650. Flame Patented Sept. 11, 1883.

N. PETERS. Phau-Lilho n mr. Washington, D. C,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. H. MITCHELL.

MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES.

No. 284,650. HM Patented Sept. 11, 1883.

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F'lGull. r I d F /Z/%ZM M NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. HENRY MITCHELL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,650, dated September 11, 1883,

Application filed March 15,1883. (No model.)

to the accompanying drawings.

My invention is intended to effect, mechanically, the sulphuring or paraffining and heading of the matches, and the final severance of drums.

the splints, all these operations being performed without rehandling, and at a single passage through the machine.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the machine. Fig.2 is a plan View thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the dipping- Fige is a sectional side elevation of the first set of dipping or sulphuring drums. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan view and end elevation of the same. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a sectional side elevation and a plan view of the second dipping or heading drum. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the machine. Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a plan and sectional view of a portion of the endless clamping-belt and the stripper-plate for removing the matches therefrom. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the presser-roller.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 9, A represents the frame of the machine, which supports in proper bearings all the working parts thereof.

B represents the main driving-shaft, from which all motions of the machine are taken. This shaft Brotatesin bearings 13, fastenedto the frame A of the machine, and power is supplied to it by a pulley, B keyed or fastened thereon, the arrow showing the direction of motion. Upon this shaft B, near its ends, are keyed two bevel-gears, C G, which engage with two other gears, (J C, respectively, which are in turn fastened or keyed to two other shafts, D D, mounted in bearings near each end of the machine.

Upon the shafts D D are keyed, in pairs, chain-wheels D and E, the teeth of which engage with two parallel endless chains, F, which latter carry a series of plates, a, forming a sectional endless belt. The plates a are provided with parallel rows of projecting clampstuds 1), the details of whose construction are shown more clearly in Figs. 10 and 11.

placed in such proximity to one another as to form a series of wedge-shaped recesses, the width of whose bottoms is about one-half the diameter of an averagesized match-splint, while the opening at the top is considerably wider than the splint. The width of the endless belt formed by the series of plates (6 is somewhat less than the length of the uncut splint, which is ordinarily double that of the finished match.

The arrangement of the studs 12 is such as to form a continuous central longitudinal way throughout the endless belt F, in which the periphery of a circular saw, R, runs. The adjacent edges of each pair of plates are beveled, to permit their free,n1otion in following the convolutions of the chain F, but are pro vided with overlapping flanges (Z, which in all positions of the plates form continuous runs at the joints to prevent the entrance of splints or chips. The endless belt is guided and held by a numberpf chain-wheels, G, and rollers G. It passes first under a hopper, H, whose width is just that of the uncut match-splint, and forms the bottom of said hopper. Adj a cent to the hopper H is the tread or press roller H, Fig. 12, whose teeth correspond with the recesses between the studs 7), and which is suspended in ball-and-socket bearings upon the weighted arms cl, mounted in a swivel bearing upon the frame A. Above the roller H are two light wire fingers or springs, J, secured to the frame A on each side of the belt, and in The studs 12 have inclined sides, and are front of these springs is a wastereceptacle, J.

After passing beneath the hopper H and pressroller H and between the springs J, the belt travels vertically into a heating-chamber, J provided with an inlet at the bottom and an outlet at the top, as-shown, to permit the passage of a current of hot air. Passing over the chain-wheels J the belt descends from the hot-air chamber J to the sulphuring or paraffining apparatus K, whose details are shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. K represents a box, of cast-iron, with a subjaeent heatingchamber, K and having a central flanged opening, K to permit the passage of the belt. Two flanged rollers, L rotate upon shafts L mounted in bearings L upon the box K, and each roller is provided with a scraper, M,

of the roller and converge to a central oblong opening, m. A shield, M, protects the rollers and material thereon from chilling by contact with the air. After passing through the sulphuring apparatus K, the belt passes down around a roller, G, and up vertically into a second heating-chamber, N, (shaped like the first, Ji.) which is also fastened to the frame A of the machine. This chamber N has also a chain-wheel, J, over which the belt turns, and thence descends into a second dipping-box, 0. (Shown more in detail in Figs. 7 and 8, and also in Fig. 3.) The construction of this dipping apparatus 0 is the same as the sulphuring or paraffining apparatus K, with the exception of the shape of the dippingrollers Q and scrapers T, the rollers having no flanges, and the scrapers being arranged to collect the material from the face of the roller and concentrate it to one point in the center, thereby making a much thicker flow of material, and heavy enough to shape as large a head as may be wanted. The scrapers T may be arranged by'slotted screw-holes to open and close and make the body of material more or less, as may be wanted. rollers Q or the speed of their peripheries, is the same as the speed of travel of the belt in the same direction. Power is supplied to all four dipping-rolls by the pulley P, fastened to the main shaft B, which is connected by an endless belt to another pulley, P, Fig. 9, fastened to a small counter-shaft, P working in bearings fastened to the inside of the frame of the machine. On the same shaft 1? is fastened another pulley, P, which is also connected by a second endless belt .to a pulley, Q, fastened to one of the shafts of the dipping-roller. The four rollers are all connected together-two upon each shaftand the two shafts are connected by a twist belt, Q, working upon the necessary pulleys, Q". After traveling some distance over the series of chain wheelsand pulleys shown in Fig. 1, the belt passes between two powdering devices, consisting of hoppers R, communicating at the bottom with air-blast pipes R whose nozzles terminate in proximity to the sides of the belt. These pipes may be connected with any ordinary blastproducing apparatus, which, however, I have not deemed it necessary to show in detail. The belt then descends to a circular saw, R, having very fine teeth, the periphery revolving in the central longitudinal groove of the belt, as before specified, and adjacent to the saw is an inclined stripper-plate, S, whose prongs enter longitudinally with the belts travel between the outer rows of studs. Beneath the stripper S is a receptacle for the matches, and after passing this point the belt returns to the hopper H.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The hopper H is filled with the match-splints (which are double the length of the finished matches) arranged transversely to the belts travel. The sulphuring or paraflining and The rotation of "the heading devices are charged with the proper materials in a fluid condition, and the powder ing-hoppers R are filled with pulverized pumice-stone or similar substance. The belt, being then set in motion, travels upon the hopper H, and the splints are taken up by the interstices between the studs. As the splints are longer than the width of the belt, their ends project some distance beyond its sides; but the arrangement of the belt centrally under thehopper renders the amount of projection uniform on both sides. On emerging frombeneath the hopper H the splints are subjected to the pressure of the tread-roller, which forces them firmly into the wedge-shaped recesses formed by the inclined sides of the studs. The freelyjointed suspension of this pressure-roller enables it to adapt itself to irregularities in the size or shape of the splints, and thus all which are sufficiently perfect to be made into matches are held firmly for the subsequent treatment. The action of the light spring-fingers J is to discard all splints which from their small size or imperfections are not thus firmly held, and

to throw them into the waste-receptacle J.

The splints are then carried-through the heating-chamber J and down to the sulphuring device K, where their projecting ends pass through the oblong opening of the scrapers M.

These scrapers collect from the surface of the roller L a sufficient quantity of sulphur (or of parafiine, where that material is to be used) to make a continuous stream through the oblong opening aforesaid, and as the match-splints pass through their ends are coated with the material for about one-half inch of their length. They then pass through the second heating and drying chamber, and down to the heading device WV, whose rollers rotate at the same speed as that with which the splints are traveling. The result of this combination and relative arrangement is thatthe dipping of the splints takes place in a manner which is the equivalent of vertical hand-dipping, and a symmetrical head is produced. After traveling a sufficient distance to permit the heads to set, they are subjected to the action of the powdering devices, where, by means of the blast, they receive a coating of pulverized material. This powdering process and its objects are fully described in an application heretofore filed by me for Letters Patent, and need not now be more particularly adverted to than by stating that it is to prevent the' sticking together of the still soft match-heads when the matches are removed from the machine. After receiving the powder the splints are ,divided in the center of their length by means of the saw R, two matches being thus formed from each splint, and they are then stripped out from the wedge-shaped clamps by means of the stripper-plate S, which is inserted beneath them, as shown in Fig. 11. The finished matches fall into a receptacle, from which they are removed and laid away for the heads to harden and dry, after which theyare boxed. The belt, after the matches havebeen discharged, as above described, returns to the hopper H, to again take up the splints.

It will thus be seen that the Operation of the machine is continuous, and that during the treatment of the splints they are not only separated, so as to prevent the formation of double heads, but are clamped very firmly upon the belt, the highly compressible and elastic character of the woods generally used permitting this mode of securing them without injury.

I am aware that the use of a corrugated belt, broadly speaking, is not new in connection with match machinery. So far as I am aware, however, such belts have never been constructed with wedge-shaped openings adapted by their size andshape to clamp the splints by compression therein alone, but have been provided with auxiliary belts traveling continuously in contact therewith, by means of which the splints were prevented fromfalling from the corrugations. I do -not desire to claim such devices, since one of the main .objects of my present invention is to .dispense with the use of such secondary holding-belts; nor do I desire to claim the combination, with an endless belt, of studs or pins, which, though separating the splints and permitting their lateral movement, are not by their size, shape, and relative situation adapted to clamp each splint and retain it firmly during the travel of the belt and in all its various positions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim herein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the carrying-be1t,

having receptacles thereon whose sides converge from a maximum opening greater than the diameter of the match-splint to an opening less than the diameter of said splint, and a pressing device operating to force the splints into said receptacle, substantially in the manner set forth.

2. The combination, with the belt and clamping devices mounted thereon, of a discardingspring, arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the belt and its clamping devices, of inclined stripper-fingers arranged to enter between said clamping devices and raise the splints therefrom as the belt travels, substantially in the manner set forth.

4. The combination, with the sulphur or paraffine receptacle, of aflanged roller rotating therein, and provided with a three sided scraper, in contact with said roller and its flanges, and terminating in a spout, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the belt carrying the splints, of a heading-roller having scrapers which converge to an orificein the line of passage of the said splints, said roller being provided with suitable mechanism for rotating it at the same rate as that at which the splints travel through said orifice, substantially in the manner andfor the purposes set forth.

J. HENRY MITCHELL.

\Vitnesses:

J. \VALLER DOUGLASS, S. 'H. PooLE. 

